San Francisco is a city of dogs. Perhaps it’s because adults opt not to have children here, or perhaps it’s because San Francisco is 20 percent parkland. Whatever the case may be, it’s almost impossible to go outside without seeing someone walking a furry friend or seeing a spotted critter wrangle with a Frisbee. You can even take your dog to the movies.
This presents a great opportunity for the non-dog-owner to get their daily dose of doggie without having to deal with the expense or the cleanup. If dog-sitting for Rover feels like too much of a commitment, here are some of SF’s annual events where you can get your doggo fix on for the rest of the year.
SF Corgi Meetup
Saturday, April 22, Spark Social SF
Spark Social SF is hosting a corgi meetup. You don’t need to own a corgi, but you do have to love them and their “frapping” — that sounds dirty, but it’s actually an acronym for “frequent random acts of play” or, more scientifically, “frenetic random activity periods.” You can RSVP here.
DogFest
Saturday, April 22, Duboce Park
San Francisco’s largest dog festival is hosted annually in Duboce Park, with proceeds going to the McKinley Elementary School. There are contests for best costume, tail, trick, coat and more. It all culminates in the “Most Openly Corrupt Best-in-Show,” which is when the winner is decided by the audience bribing the judges into picking their favorite dog. Who cares if it’s fair? In my mind, all dogs are winners.
Dog Days of SummerSunday, June 11, AT&T Ballpark
Every San Franciscan knows to pack layers, but at a Giants game, sometimes those layers don’t feel like enough. This is the part where you take your dog to keep you warm. Every summer, the Giants host a game for which you can buy a (discounted) ticket for your furry friend. Check out this year’s schedule here to get a ticket in time, and don’t forget to deck your dog out in orange swag.
Nor Cal Corgi Con
Saturday, June 17, Ocean Beach
This annual event is one of the largest corgi gatherings on the West Coast. Last year, over 700 stout, short-legged puppers stopped by to partake in a costume contest, photo ops and a short race. If you have not seen a corgi in costume, you have not lived. Corgi Con hosts would like their attendees to know that they’re looking “furward” to seeing their “furriends” at the event.
Farley’s Annual Pet Parade and Halloween Contest
TBD, Farley’s Coffee, Potrero Hill
This Farley’s location wins my vote for best coffee shop in the city on the basis of this event alone. Watch proud pups parade down the block, and win trophies for everything from costume to congeniality. The parade begins at cross streets 18th and Arkansas, with ample pet treats for all participants. The date will be announced on the Farley’s Events page as October approaches.
And if you’d like to widen your net outside the city, don’t forget the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.
Any dog fests we’ve forgotten? Remind us in the comments.
Edit: this story originally stated that the SF Spark meetup was monthly. The fact has since been corrected.
